You'd be surprised how often NFL coaches and front office personnel fly coach.
These billion-dollar organizations practically print money, and they regularly charter private flights for various reasons. But when it comes to sending some coaches to the Senior Bowl or scouting staff to a pro day, Southwest Airlines works just fine. Sure, they have money to burn, but they don't burn it on unnecessary stuff like that.
So when I heard the Titans took their private jet down to Miami for Cam Ward's private workout, it caught my attention.
Backing up to the beginning of that week, Monday, March 24th, it was heavily reported how large a contingent the Titans had in Miami for Ward's Pro Day. It felt like every person on the team's payroll made the trip. Tennessee's "4 Pack" of front office leadership was there, comprised of President Chad Brinker, GM Mike Borgonzi, VP/Football Advisor Reggie McKenzie, and Asst. GM Dave Ziegler. Everybody pertinent to the QB position on the coaching staff was there too, with HC Brian Callahan, OC Nick Holz, and QB Coach Bo Hardegree in attendance.
And perhaps even more telling, a large portion of the Titans media team went down as well. If that doesn't smell like a post-draft YouTube series about the Titans "road to Cam Ward", I don't know what does.
That televised event was on Monday, and it was reported later in the week that the Titans had a private workout set up with Ward on Friday at the school once more. For this, the entire leadership crew of front office execs and coaches traveled back to South Florida.
So why the private flight? Because Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk was coming with them.
This introductory meeting between Strunk and Ward went very well, and serves as the strongest indicator yet that Ward will be Tennessee's selection with the first overall pick. I wrote about all the other reasons why, despite national media murkiness, the Titans plan has been Cam for some time which you can read here.
Owners don't really make a habit of traveling to meet with draft prospects unless they're in the final stages of deciding whether to draft them (or unless you're Jerry Jones). If you had any doubts about the "Cam Ward to the Titans" narrative during the heat of lying season, this should all but put them to rest.
The last time Amy met with a prospect before they were drafted (at least that we know of publicly) was Jeffery Simmons. She spoke at his introductory press conference in 2019 about the process and her faith in him before the Titans selected him in the First Round. From the Titans official website:
"Strunk was involved in the process that led to the Titans selecting Simmons. 'We are getting a great football player, that goes without saying, but we are getting a great man,' Strunk said in April of 2019. 'We are a nation that gives second chances, and this young man, Jeffery Simmons, he deserved that second chance.'"
For her to be involved with Cam Ward a month out from draft day tells you everything you need to know about the direction the Titans are headed in.
